General Note/Comment

One audio cassette. Interview with life-long fisher and Florida native Doc Bennett. He discusses making a living in the Depression (farming and fishing); nets and seining; shad and catfishing; church; local fish fries; state regulations; sports fishing; changes in the St. Johns River; fishing methods and equipment; and how he learned to fish. He is hard of hearing so often had to have questions repeated. His memory was fading by time of interview. In winter 1985, the Bureau contracted with two folklorists to conduct a folk arts survey of the St. Johns River basin in northeastern Florida. The St. Johns River is the largest and most used river in Florida, supporting much river commerce as well as a modest amount of commercial fishing. Folklorists Mary Anne McDonald and Kathleen Figgen conducted the survey from January through March 1985 under the direction of Folklife Coordinator Blanton Owen and Bureau Chief Ormond Loomis. Documentation compiled in the survey was used to prepare and present the 'St. Johns River Basin Folklife Area' at the 1985 Florida Folk Festival.

Florida Memory is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Florida Department of State's Division of Library and Information Services.